Wednesday, September 14, 2011

I don't know a whole lot about Mormonism myself and I don't have a dog in the fight between those who say it's a true form of Christianity that those who say it isn't. But today's story about how evangelicals are "wary" of Mormon GOP presidential contenders Mitt Romney and Jon Hunstman points to some background reading:

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“All the perversities of all errors, all sects, preaching deviant morals and ungodliness, have had as their authors men of great brilliance. They weren’t the brain-children of any sort of men, they were started by men of the sharpest intelligence.”
-- St. Augustine, Sermon 374:5:2, in, "Newly Discovered Sermons," 1997, New City Press, p. 394.

"When the devil wants to cause offense against the true doctrine and faith, he does not do so through insignificant people, who do not rate highly with the world, but through those who are the very best, the wisest, the holiest, and the most learned."
-- Martin Luther, "What Luther says," Ewald Martin Plass, ed., 1959, Concordia Pub. House, Volume 2, p. 693. No. 1943 The Devil Uses Men of Consequence.

My impression is that the liberal press is much more interested in bringing up Romney's Mormonism than the evangelical right is. I think this is hypocrisy of the worst sort on the part of liberal journalists. I don't remember much discussion by them about whether or not Reverend Wright's church represented real Christianity. Any talk about Obama's religion was out of bounds.

--I think both Bachmann and Perry are trying to attract the evangelical crowd, their unspoken message is that Romney is not of the true faith, Huntsman has not advanced enough for them to worry about. While Perry attacks Romney, I notice Michele is more focused on the Texan's message. She knows they'll split the evangelical vote, which will benefit Romney. Still, I can't see Romney doing well in the South.

2. From a Catholic and Orthodox perspective, one can easily view Luther as one who caused offense against "true doctrine and faith", who severed his church from apostolic succession and lost any kind of authority. Of course, the Lutherans et al wil mare certain remarks about the Whore of Rome and papist mummeries, so let's leave it at that.

Come on all you believers of Warren Smith... Do we really need to divide the country up with your religious tests that our Constitution says we shouldn't? So be it then let's make up a confederacy. OK all of you Evangelicals in the South need to vote for Perry; you Catholics in the Northeast need to vote for Santorum; let's see Bachmann you can maintain that Lutheran vote in the Mid-West; I guess it will be a fistfight between Romney and Huntsman to gather all of the Latter-Day Saints in the West; uhm Mr. Cain would you mind converting to being a Methodist to try to nail the vote that's left in the Central States?

Am I in Iraq trying to figure out whether I should move to a Sunni, Shia or Kurd neighborhood? No I guess that's Northern Ireland I need to determine if I'm on the Catholic or Protestant side of the road. Congratulations Mr. Obama for another four years in office.

Having been brought up in the Christian Evangelical faith myself, (Lutheran), but since having drifted to a more non-religious agnostic mindset, I would tend to side with the pro Mitt Romney segment of evangelicals in this case. By no means am I a Republican supporter, however, I just can't see how Romney's Mormon beliefs would sufficiently undermine the "rational" qualities he possesses enough to put the country in any danger if he's elected in 2012 -- I think he's the best of a bad lot.

There's something about how thee arguments are presented that reminds me of growing up and watching Jerry Springer after school before my parents got home. All we need is a crowd chanting Jerry and the KKK to make an appearance.

But seriously, when it comes down to it, who's qualified to give us the economic turn around we need to survive as a country? It it another Democrat? Or is it one of these Republican candidates? Honestly, we just need someone to do something to help turn this country around and not dig us in deeper!

When it come down to it, the candidate should be chosen on strength of character and ability to make those changes.

Jimmy G. You are imagining again. I read the mainstream press (which you fervently claims to be the liberal press) and somehow I learned all about Obama's church and his Reverend Wright, plus articles on Obama's religious background. How did we all learn about this in the reportage of the press. I certainly did not learn it from Fox News (since I avoid garbage networks) or from conservative publications. Must have been from the mainstream press.

Anyone who wanted to bring up Obama's religion was condemned as a bigot by the mainstream press. In contrast, we see a seemingly never ending discussion of Romney's religion in the same press that was so reticent regarding Obama.

The story line is usually something like, "Will the evangelical right accept a Mormon?" which is another way of saying, "Hey, you yokels on the religious right! Did you know this guy is one of those weirdo Latter Day Saints people?" The purpose of articles like this is to discuss the (rather bizarre to most people) Mormon doctrine and to make doubly sure that Romney is associated with it in the public mind.

It is the equivalent of calling Obama "Barack HUSSEIN Obama." Romney is known in the (supposedly secular) press as Mormon Mitt Romney.

Jimmy G: "Romney is known in the (supposedly secular) press as Mormon Mitt Romney."

Can you direct readers to two or three instances where he was referred to as "Mormon Mitt Romney" in the press? Or are you claiming to have special knowledge of how news people refer to him behind close doors?

"Those who suggested Obama was a Muslim were certainly charged with stoking the flames of anti-Muslim sentiment in the country."

And, I suppose the liberal press, by constantly bringing up Romney's Mormonism, even though it has never had any visible influence on Romney's public life, is not stoking the flames of anti-Mormon sentiment?

Please consider taking some deep breaths and having a lie-down on the vapors couch.

ZORN COMMENT -- I don't want to hear any "what difference does it make if he's a Mormon?" pieties from anyone who would not vote for an atheist or a Muslim for president. It's conventional wisdom that an atheist can never be elected president, and so long as that's true, and I assume it is, I'm taking no crap from anyone who thinks it's unfair to hold a politician's religion against him or her.

About "Change of Subject."

"Change of Subject" by Chicago Tribune op-ed columnist Eric Zorn contains observations, reports, tips, referrals and tirades, though not necessarily in that order. Links will tend to expire, so seize the day. For an archive of Zorn's latest Tribune columns click here. An explanation of the title of this blog is here. If you have other questions, suggestions or comments, send e-mail to ericzorn at gmail.com.
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Contributing editor Jessica Reynolds is a 2012 graduate of Loyola University Chicago and is the coordinator of the Tribune's editorial board. She can be reached at jreynolds at tribune.com.